" Google Australia will today be sent a "please explain" letter from
two local privacy organisations demanding to know why the company
has been collecting personal Wi-Fi network data from Australian homes alongside the images it takes with its Street View cameras. "

Little is known about Google's collection of this data. Although the company argues the information is public and therefore not in breach of any laws, it conceded last week that it could have been better publicised.

Google claims the Wi-Fi data is only being used to help pinpoint the location of mobile devices on Google Maps and other location services much like a GPS signal, and that no details it collects about the network are published online.

And just why does Google need to pinpoint the location of my mobile device ?_________________﻿

Really? I feel so much better knowing that Google will be handling the 911 distress call from my mobile phone! When was a mandate issued to Google for E911 service?

What's next? Are they going to try to take over my TV too? Wait a sec.. that's already in the works. They're gonna have a hard time doing that! The dummies. Ha ha ha. All TVs would have to be able to read digital transmissions for that to work! Oops... darn, that was done last year wasn't it._________________﻿

Well I don't like the big-brotherish potentials of the system,
but continuing to play sheeple, there are more reasons
google will be involved:
1.Newer phones do a lot more than make "Cellular" calls,
which may cost more than VOIP/wi-fi stuff like Skype.
2.Some people Twitter all day instead of Talk on their phone,
and that is also a service owned by or associated with google.
3.Google has already scanned the whole earth in fine detail
and made google maps which are or have been or will be used
in GPS gadgets, (which actually have been hacked to reveal a
linux or WinCE environment, and then after installing an AV player,
be used like an i-pod, since the screen and voice speaker can also
play videos). Many of the online maps (and GPS gadgets) can
also already be queried to show the nearest fuel stations, hotels,
places to eat, hospitals, etc.

Also:
"Stolen" wireless devices have in the past been located by turning
on the cameras, but that feature has been outrageously abused
and now its location can be more effectively and less intrusively
known by where it is connecting to the networks. Unfortunately,
the devices don't automatically determine when they are "stolen"
so the "recovery features" can be used at any time for unrelated
reasons. Likewise, an emergency panic button in some cars that
has a speakerphone and GPS has been used to locate "stolen"
vehicles and disable them in unexpected ways and situations.
The objectionable issues arise when malicious parties gain
access and control to these functions and use them in harmful
ways, and they cannot be turned off by the obviously rightful
owners and innocent victims in such a situation, most of which
believed the intended feature was a good safe idea when they
bought the wireless communicator, laptop, or vehicle. Automatic
updates can be turned into Malware, and for that reason I always
want to know what's being "fixed" and why, especially if its not
obviously broken, and always tends to slow down as more
active software is added.

The state of Connecticut Attorney General has sent Google a letter notifying of possible violations of the state's privacy laws and requesting an explanation of their actions. He is also running for the Senate, so it is a good way to get on the local TV. It may help._________________Enjoy life, Just Greg
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

I think the answer is that Google understands the value of data and wants ALL your data. Not just search histories but to scan your email and rip off your songs (Youtube) and rip off your books (Google book project), etc, etc.

This is a company built on selling the intellectual content and personal data of others.

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